Brandi - 11-3-2004 at 12:56 PM
Gone, but not Forgotten
I was fortunate enough to return to Gonzaga Bay with my family and friends in late October. While Gonzaga Bay will always be my personal paradise,
some of the ingredients that gave it such flavor for me, are gone.
Back in May, over Memorial Day weekend, Etta, my friend Heather, and I were in Gonzaga for the annual Memorial Day bash. It seems this would be the
last weekend we would spend with Pedro, Brenda and their little girl, Andrea. We spent our last night there with them on my front patio, asking many
questions, sharing times spent, laughing and crying. While we still have no answers to their abrupt departure, I have learned that many questions
are better left unanswered.
When we arrived at the cantina on this last visit, we were not greeted by the ear to ear grin of our friend and cook, Irma. Antonio informed us that
Irma is gone now too. Antonio is to stay on till sometime next year to find and train replacements for them. An impossible feat is there ever was
one. Irma and Antonio ARE the cantina.
I will always be thankful for Pedro, Brenda, Antonio and Irma. They are the reason I took all those spanish classes. I wanted to communicate with
these people, not just "do business with them". They were my inspiration. Those spanish classes let us become "friends". They too, saw me in a
different light when they learned that I wanted to truly "know " them. As I said, I will always be grateful.
So next time you're driving through San Quintin, at the first Pemex in town, make a right at the light (by the big church) and a quick left on the
first street. Pedro's family owns a little market there. Stop in and say hi and let them know Gonzaga is just not the same without them there. And
Irma, she lives in Ensenada somewhere with the rest of her family. Send a silent greeting out when you pass through. They may be gone, but I will
never forget them.
Mike Humfreville - 11-3-2004 at 05:08 PM
Very sad news. Antonio may just be able to find and train someone to do his job, but they will never replace him. I hope they were just tired of
staying for so long and on a daily basis in such a remote place. Here's to the futures of Irma and Antonio.